THERE are few places where antisocial behaviour is completely non-existent – but the Chestnut estate in Pitsea is not far from it.

Five years ago, locals were at their their wits’ end with tearaway teens and spates of vandalism.

But, instead of allowing their community to become a bleak, crime-ridden neighbourhood like so many others they decided to do something about it.

A meeting was held between residents, the offending teenagers, their parents, and local youth and police representatives, to thrash out the problem.

The unlikely gathering was held in the front room of Bunty Murtagh’s house, in Chestnut Road. It was an evening the 66-year-old will never forget.

“At times it was really intimidating,” said Bunty, a retired worked for the General Medical Council, in London. “I had all these hooded youths standing in my living room and they didn’t like being branded troublemakers.

“But, after a while, we got through to each other and came up with a solution to get our community back on track.”

The meeting prompted the start of the Chestnut Neighbourhood Watch Group, from which Bunty founded the Chestnut Young Voice charity to give the estate’s children something to do and goals to strive for.

Residents quickly sprang into action. Mums formed their own “taxi the teens” scheme, where they would take it in turns to ferry the estate’s youngsters to a nearby youth club in Timberlog Lane, Vange.

Bunty – with the help of fellow neighbourhood watch co-ordinator, and mother-of-two, Bernie Middleton, 44 – organised community clean-up days, social barbeques, and a Christmas extravaganza, which saw Bunty’s garage transformed into Santa’s grotto.

Through Chestnut Young Voice, which is supported by Essex Police and funded through community grants, Bunty has also started reward schemes for the estate’s youngsters.

She explained: “They build up points through doing good deeds, such as litter picking, graffiti cleaning, or just helping someone.

“When they’ve got a certain amount of points they get a medal and a certificate.

“Some of the children have become very selfless through doing this.

“We recently had a disabled girl on the estate who was working towards her medal. Some of the children asked if their points could go to her so that she could get her medal. That was very touching.”

A group of the Chesnunt Young Voice youngsters this week received certificates from their local police community support officer, PC Mandy Moxon, for launching their own mini junior neighbourhood watch.

Youngsters Owen South, eight, Louis Strike, 11, Sydney Anne, 12, Megan Pritchard, eight, Lewis Gangpat, seven and his sister Kaira, six, have learnt to report anything untoward to Bunty or Bernie.

PC Moxon, police community support officer for Pitsea south east, added: “Crime and antisocial behaviour on this estate has virtually been wiped out.

“We used to get called here a lot, but that’s all changed thanks to the success of the Chestnut neigh-bourhood watch and the youth group.

“I really love coming here. This is certainly a place I’d say has community spirit. Like any housing estate, the area has the occasional problem with youngsters, but the difference is, when there’s an issue, the residents get together to find a solution.

“We had a problem with youngsters playing football on the green area,” said Bunty. “People living in flats near to the green were getting annoyed with balls thumping on to their walls and windows.

“So we got together and Bernie came up with the idea of the kids using a foam ball.

“They are now using these foam balls, even though they get agitated they can’t play a decent game.”

Bunty believes there are balls available, harder than foam, but softer than leather, and is appealing for help in finding them for the children to use.

Bunty and the children have received plenty of plaudits for their achievements, including winning an Essex High Sheriff Award, while Bunty herself was invited to Downing Street to meet Tony Blair two years ago.

She added: “The change in the atmosphere on the estate is quite amazing.

“Our once defiant teenagers are obviously a lot happier being the good guys.

l Anyone who can help donate footballs to the group should contact Bunty on 07806 874720.